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Winemaker's Notes:

The inspiration behind this name came from the age-old proverb ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.’ The unusual and quirky names that d’Arenberg’s range of wines has never done the winery any harm. d’Arenberg also do use sticks (vine cuttings) planted into stony soils to produce the grapes that result in this wine. The wines appearance has a deep, red brilliance about it. The aromas compared to previous years are more fragrant and flowery with a leafy mix of herbaceous, dark-red berries, cranberries, plums, fresh strawberry jam and violets. As the wine opens, aromatic notes of musk, violets, dark cherries, bush tomatoes and strong flowery notes come through with a background of spice and fine oak notes. The palate is soft, alluring and bigger due to the Shiraz. The flavours are very elegant and have a dark red/earthy focus and as the wine opens the grenache cranberry notes become quite obvious. The mid palate is long with a lovely softness about it. A mix of red and black fruit evolve and is dominated with savoury fruit notes such as cherry and olive stones, kirsch-like notes, roasted dates and mineral notes as the tannins take hold on the finish. The flavours linger and are balanced with edgy acidity and fine gritty mineral tannins which gives the wine a level of elegance that is different to previous vintages but it still retains its rich juicy end which is intrinsic to Sticks and Stones.

d’Arenberg has developed an enviable reputation with their range of idiosyncratic wines. From the Stump Jumps through to the highly regarded Icons, these wines offer value, individuality and a true taste of McLaren Vale. The Icons The Ironstone Pressings, The Coppermine Road, The Dead Arm Shiraz The Icons are the most powerful and concentrated of d’Arenberg’s wines. Compris... Read more

d’Arenberg has developed an enviable reputation with their range of idiosyncratic wines. From the Stump Jumps through to the highly regarded Icons, these wines offer value, individuality and a true taste of McLaren Vale. The Icons The Ironstone Pressings, The Coppermine Road, The Dead Arm Shiraz The Icons are the most powerful and concentrated of d’Arenberg’s wines. Comprising of the Dead Arm, the Coppermine Road and the Ironstone Pressings, this range represents the pinnacle of d’Arenberg’s efforts. Century old, low-yielding vines produce intensely flavored fruit which is traditionally vinified and undergoes rigorous barrel-selection prior to classification. Chester's Champions The Lucky Lizard, The Twentyeight Road, The Last Ditch, The Money Spider, The Feral Fox, The Sticks & Stones, The Derelict Vineyard, The Cadenzia, The Galvo Garage, The Laughing Magpie Since the early 1900’s, d’Arenberg has pioneered innovative wine styles and varietal plantings. Chester’s Champions represent d’Arenberg’s most exciting new ventures, offering an eclectic alternative to the known and loved bastions of the portfolio. The Classic Red Stripes The Dry Dam, The Broken Fishplate, The Olive Grove, The Hermit Crab, The Custodian, The High Trellis, d’Arrys Original, The Love Grass, The Footbolt. The Classic Red Stripes represent the backbone of the d’Arenberg range. Considered the epitome of d’Arenberg’s style, they are a reflection of skillful winemaking and unique terroir – regionally expressive, fruit-forward and approachable. The Stump Jumps Stump Jump White, Stump Jump Red, Stump Jump Shiraz Named after an important South Australian invention – the Stump Jump plough, these wines are typically light- or un-oaked, offering a fresh, approachable view of McLaren Vale’s premium varietals. Read less

The inspiration behind this name came from the age-old proverb ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.’ The unusual and quirky names that d’Arenberg’s range of wines has never done the winery any harm. d’Arenberg also do use sticks (vine cuttings) planted into stony soils to produce the grapes that result in this wine. The wines appearance has a deep, red brilliance about it. The aromas compared to previous years are more fragrant and flowery with a leafy mix of herbaceous, dark-red berries, cranberries, plums, fresh strawberry jam and violets. As the wine opens, aromatic notes of musk, violets, dark cherries, bush tomatoes and strong flowery notes come through with a background of spice and fine oak notes. The palate is soft, alluring and bigger due to the Shiraz. The flavours are very elegant and have a dark red/earthy focus and as the wine opens the grenache cranberry notes become quite obvious. The mid palate is long with a lovely softness about it. A mix of red and black fruit evolve and is dominated with savoury fruit notes such as cherry and olive stones, kirsch-like notes, roasted dates and mineral notes as the tannins take hold on the finish. The flavours linger and are balanced with edgy acidity and fine gritty mineral tannins which gives the wine a level of elegance that is different to previous vintages but it still retains its rich juicy end which is intrinsic to Sticks and Stones.